About the Space Centre
Located in the Waikato region of New Zealand, Te Awamutu Space Centre is an inspiring educational attraction for all ages. Experience the world of space and astronomy through displays and interactive activities. Our centrepiece exhibit is a small but fascinating collection of artifacts from the American and Russian/Soviet space programmes. You'll also find informative displays about the Universe, the history of space exploration and scientific research. Use the interactive screens to see what's in the night sky, tour the Solar System, land a spacecraft, and much more.
We also have:
- Options for schools, holiday programmes, birthday parties, senior citizens, conferences, meetings, Christmas functions, etc.
- Telescope viewing, including a solar telescope for safely looking at the Sun (weather permitting).
IMPORTANT: To visit the Space Centre you should book a session in advance. Although you can call in whenever we're open to see if we have space available, you may find that we're either closed or fully booked. Booking in advance is the only way to guarantee a visit.
Venue & Location
The Space Centre is located on the corner of Lyon St (State Highway 3) and Whitmore St., Kihikihi. This is about 5 km south of Te Awamutu. More details...
The building is approximately 200m2, consisting of one main room and several smaller rooms, and able to accommodate up to 75 people.
- Toilets: 1 male, 1 female. The female toilet doubles as the disabled toilet.
- Parking: Either on the road or on the grass beside the building (see map).
- Wheelchair access: Most wheelchairs can get into the building with minimal fuss but please click here for details.
History
The Space Centre is a privately-funded project run by Dave Owen (Space Dave) and his family. It has been a work in progress since around 2009 and has enjoyed steady growth since then. See previous media coverage of the Space Centre.